Electroplating apparatus



Dec. 10, 1929;

w. E. BELKE 1,738,515

ELECTROPLATING' APPARATUS Filed March 51, 192

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Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROPLATING APPARATUS Application filed March 31, 1927. Serial No. 179,837.

This invention relatesto plating apparatus, and moreparticularly to apparatus of this kind in which the articles, such as faucets or other articles of plumbin or knives and forks or other ta le articles, are supported on ortable racks that are loaded and placed in t e plating solution.

One of the objects of the invention is to provile a novel construction and arrangement whereby a rack is provided which embodies therein the cathode terminal or terminals, upon which the work to be plated is supported, and also the anode terminals, from which the electric current passes through the solution to the articles to be plated all in one unitary structure.

Another object is to provide an effective covering for the portions of. the rack which are exposed to the solution, of a material wlnch will not be attacked by any of the different kinds of solutions.

Another object is to provide a form of cathode terminal that will strongly and positively contact with the article to be plated.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efliciency and the desirability of electro-plating apparatus of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, the inven tion consists in the matters hereinafter described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a view looking down on an electroplating apparatus embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 m Fig 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line -33 in Fig. 2.

showing a portion of the rack and illustrating the form and construction of one of the cathode terminals.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a diflerent form of the invention, showing a cage-like anode terminal for insuring the proper plating of the concave or inner surface of a reflector.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises 'atank orreceptacle lhavingany suitable plating solution therein, depending upon the character of the plating to be done.

, For some kinds of work, the anode terminal member 2 may be of iron, and is provided with a hook 3 and a set screw 4 to support theanode on the horizontal rod or bar 5, which latter is supported in a stationary position in any suitable or desired manner. The rack for supporting the articles to be plated comprises a body portion 6 having cathode terminals 7 thereon, for supporting the articles to be plated, and the rack is provided with anode'terminals 8 disposed in position to plate the under surfaces of the articles to be plated. The anode terminals 8 are connected to the metal hook 9, which has a set screw 10 for clamping it on the bar 5 previously mentioned. The cathode terminals 7 are conductively connected in a similar manner to the metal hook 11, which has a set screw 12 for clamping it on the cathode bus bar or rod 13, which latter may be supported in a stationary pgsition in any suitable or desired mannera The cathode terminals 7 are electrically connected to the copper conductor 14 by nuts 15, which are screwed upon the screwthreaded portions 16 of the copper conductor 14, and the anode terminals 8 are similarly connected to the copper conductor 17, and these two conductors are insulated from each other by a jacket .18 of baked clay, ceramic material, or other material which will resist attack by chromic acid or chromium, or by other plating solutions of this kind." With this construction and arrangement a more 2 s messes uniform plating on the surfaces of the articles to be plated is insured. The arrange ment of the anode terminals tends to insure the desired chromium or other metal deposit in recesses of the articles to be plated. As many of these auxiliary wire or rod anodes can be used as is necessary to insure uniform plating over the entire surface of the articles to be plated, and they can be shaped differently to insure the desired results.

The spring cathode terminals 7 bear positively against the articles to be plated, as shown, and insure the proper-electrical contact.

In Fig. 5, the .two copper conductors 14 and 17 are encased separately in insulation, as shown, and they are then bound together by a band 20, or by any other suitable means.

In Fig. 7, the construction is similar to that previously described, but in this case the anode terminal 21 is especially shaped to insure the proper plating of the inside of a refiector, which latter is shown held in position on the spring cathode terminal.

The body portions 1t and 17, of course, instead of bein of copper, can be of iron or any other meta as occasion may require, depending upon the character of the insulation used, it being desirable to use a metal having a higher melting point than the insulation,

as the insulation is desirably melted or baked on to the metal.

Without disclaiming anything, and without prejudice to any novelty disclosed, what I claim as my invention is:

1. In electro-plating apparatus, a rigid rack for supporting the articles to be lated, said rack comprising a single spine aving both cathode and anode terminals projecting therefrom in fixed relation, the cathode terminals adapted to support the articles to he plated, and the anode terminals being disposed in position to facilitate and insure the desired, plating of said articles, whereby an anode terminal is alloted to each cathode terminal, together with means whereby the anode terminals are insulated from the oathode terminals, with a positive conductor in said spine for the anode terminals and a negative conductor in the spine for the cathode terminals, compelling the current to pass through the electrolyte solution from the anode terminals to the work held on the cathode terminals.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, in combination with an anode common to all of said cathode terminals, suspended in the solution adjacent thereto, and positive and nega-. tive supporting bars, said spine having one rigid hook to engage one bar and another hook to engage the other bar.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, there being at least one anode terminal below each cathode terminal, whereby each anode terove.

4. In plating apparatus, a single spine havingprojecting cathode terminals for supporting the work, each said terminal comprisin a springfor insertion into the interior of the work, adapted to exert spring pressure minal is allotted to a particular cathode ter minai ab against the interior to make positive contact with the work, with one end of the spring fixed on'the spine and the other free.

Specification signed this 29th day of March, 192

WILLIAM E. BELKE.

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